Metal traction drive wheel



Oct. 3l, 1933. L M, ROBERTS 1,932,604

ME TAL TRAC T ION DR I VE WHEEL Filed Sept. 22, 19:52 z'sheets-sneet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 31, 1933. J. M. ROBERTS 1,932,604

METAL TRACTION DRIVE WHEEL Filed Sept. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

55 ture shown'in Fig. 11.

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 v .s

vUNITED STATI-:s

METAL TRACTION; DRIvE .WHEEL James M. Roberts, St. Joseph, Mo.

Application September 22, 1932.

Serial No. 634,360

4 claims. (c1. soi-46) My invention relates to a traction drive wheel and has as its main object the construction of'a traction wheel provided with caulks so arranged that in soft ground excellent traction will be ob- 5 tained while on hard ground and paved roads digging up and destruction of such ground and roads will be avoided. f

Another object of 'my invention is the construction of a traction drive wheel in which traction shoes having caulks are pivoted to the wheel, and each shoe is provided with a 'spring to resist resiliently the oscillations of the shoe.

f Another object or" my invention is to connect the shoes in groups by coupling bars so that the 115 rocking resistance of all the .shoe springs of a group are effective on eachshoe of the group as the shoe comes in contact with the ground during operation yof the wheel. Y

Another object of my invention is the provision of means manually to adjust and `lock resiliently the shoes of a group'in any desired position. Still another object of my invention is the provision ofA a traction drivewheel whichzwill operate more eiliciently and more economically than ordinary traction wheels. y i' I` attain: the objects of my invention bythe mechanism. illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: n "1Fig. 1 isa view of my traction wheel in side elevation, parts being shown in section, and other partsbeing omitted. 1 v f Fig. .ilY is a vertical sectional View taken on the line X-Xof Fig. 1.

Fi'g. 3-is an inner plan View oa" traction shoe. Fig. l is a "side elevational .view of' ar traction shoe-iM W f w Fig. V5V Vis a fragmentary Vside elevational view of a certain type of shoe7 one shoe of this type Ybeing employed in each group of shoes'.

Fig. 6 is'an end view,r partlyin section,`ofthe shoe shownin Fig. 5; v Y- Fig. 7 is a top plan view and Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of a coupling Fig. 9 is an inner. plan 'viewfp'artly in section, of a fragment of the wheel rim showinga plurality of shoes mounted between two angle iron 'rimmembers n Fig. 10 isa. view in side elevation'of the "struc-'- ture shown in Fig. 9. 'f

' Fig. l1 isanvinner plan-view, partly in section, lshowing a single Yshoe in its operative relation to a leaf spring secured to an angle iron rim member. Fig. 12 is a View in side elevation of the struc- :the main body position. of its, shoe.

f With continued `reference to the drawings in which like numerals. designate like parts, my traction wheel comprises the following structure: A Wheel hub is provided and at each of the opposite ends thereof'is a radially extendingfange or disc 60- 3.-.To .each disc 3 'theinner ends of spokes, 2 of aseries are secured and vthe outer ends of the spokes 2 of each lseries are` securedto an angle iron rimmember. In Aother words, two axially spaced angle iron rim members 1 are provided. 65 shouldered bolts connect the tworim members 1 and hold them in axially spaced relation, the boltspassing through-thevertical flanges of the angle'V iron, rim -members v`'Radially inwardly of each shouldered bolt andin radial `alignment 7.0 therewitha flange-23is provided.v Each flange 23 extends axially towards themedian plane of the wheel and isintegral with vthe vertical flange of an angle iron rim member. Half of the flanges 23.:arefonone rim` member andV half are on the 75 otherrim member. Y f' y iA plurality; of traction shoes 4 substantially fills `the space fbetween the axially spaced rim members 1. Each shoe'is pivotally mounted in- .termediate 4its ends on a shoulderedA bolt,6 and 80, has thesoleor outer. groundengaging surface of its main bodysportion curved on the same radius .ther periphery ofrthe wheel; the radially outer portion `ofeach ycaullrbeing curved away from A iiat leaf spring`-18uforveach1shoeis secured to a lug 23 .by abolt 38y and extendsin such a `manner as `tofconstitute substantially a chord of the-circle .which'denesfthe periphery of the wheel rim.l .Eachendofeach leafr spring restsupon the in'- ner 'end "31. of'a c'aulk '30.: Thus pivotal movement yoffthe shoes on the bolts 6 is resiliently resistedw .f .1- f

The bolts 6 are shouldered as shown at 37 and have their ends threaded asy at y36 to receive nuts.

1 v It is to be noted that the width of theend portions of 'each shoelis equal to substantially rhalf are arranged rights and lefts in two series, the shoes of one series having their main body portions located to one side of the median plane of the wheel and the shoes of the other series having their main body portions located to the opposite side of the median plane of the wheel. The ends of the shoes of one series overlapV the ends of the shoes of the other series. The portion 26 has a nave-like portion 2S provided with an aperture 29, for a bolt 6.

In the structure so far described, the shoes may function individually. Under some conditions, however, it is desirable to control the operation of the shoes in groups. Accordingly, means are provided for connecting theV shoes in separate groups (three groups being shown in Fig. 1), and adjusting the positions of the shoes resiliently. In this arrangement, movement of any shoe is transmitted to all other shoes of the group and oscillations of the shoes are resilent- 1y resisted. The shoes of each group are connected and adjusted as follows:

Extending radially inwardly of the wheel from the central portion of each shoe is a leg 27. The

leg 27 of one shoe of each group is longer than the legs of the other shoes and has at its inner end a transverse aperture 33. The leg 27 of each shoe has adjacent its inner end laterally projecting trunnion bars 24 having diametrical aper tures 25. Coupling links 'Y are provided. As shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, each coupling link has at each of its ends a transverse aperture 34 Vadapted to receive one end of a trunnion bar 24. Adjacent each aperture 34 a hook member 35 is pivotally mounted on the coupling link, and the -bill of the hook is adapted to enter an aperture 25 of a trunnion bar 24. The shoes 4 are connected by the coupling links 7 as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 9, and 10.

The shoes of each group may be resiliently adjusted manually by the following means: A tube Y12 has threaded onto its outer end a clevis cap 16 which carries a pair of apertured ears, the aper tures receiving a pin 17 which also passes through the aperture 33 of the long leg 27 carried by one shoe of the group, thus pivotally connecting the outer end of the tube to the shoe. A centrally perforated cap 14 is threaded onto the inner end of the tube 12. A pair of links 19 is positioned between and secured to a pair of axially spaced spokes by spacing sleeves 20 and bolts 21 as most clearly shown in Fig. 2. Pivotally mounted between the links or bars 19 is a block 10 having a threaded aperture which receives the threaded innerv end 11 of a rod 13 having xed to it a handle 9. The rod passes slidably through the aperture in the cap 14 and ends within the tube 12 about centrally of the length of said tube. A button 22 is fixed to the outer end of the rod 13, and contacting each side of the button is a compression spring 15 positioned within the tube 12. When the handle 9 is rotated in one direction, the rod is threaded through the block 10 and slid through the cap 14 so that the button 22 compresses one of the springs 15. Thus the shoes of a group are resiliently urged to pivot in one direction' on their pivots 6. Rotation of the handle 9 in the opposite direction causes the shoes of the group to be resiliently urged to move in the opiposite direction on their pivots.

The coupling bars and means to adjust resiliently the shoes in groups are used only under abnormal or adverse conditions of ground. First, the use of the coupling bars alone to conncct the shoes in groups has the effect of adding the rocking rresistance of several shoe springs to that of any shoe of the group in contact with the ground. Second, where even greater tractive effort is required, the use of the resilient shoe adjusting means, including the springs 15, adds the resistance of a spring 15 to the resistance of the springs 18. By use of the adjusting means, the shoes of any or all groups may be turned on their pivots so that their caulks will bite into ice or slick surfaces and afford increased traction.

Without the use of the coupling bars 7 and the means for resiliently adjusting the shoes in groups, my traction wheel will run over good roads and hard surfaces without digging up such roads or surfaces. The same thing is true where the coupling bars and resilient adjusting means are used if the shoes are so adjusted that the feet 27 extend radially of the wheel. However, the

`caulks will bite into soft ground, due to the force rotating the wheel and the force of the springs 18 to provide eiicient traction.

When use of the means to adjust the shoes in groups is not desired, the clevis cap 16 of each adjusting device is detached from the long shoe leg 2'1 by removal of the pin 17 and thiscap is then detachably connected by pin 17 to a lug 8 secured to a spoke.

When it is not desired to use the coupling bars 7, they may be detached from the shoes, by manipulating the hooks 35, and stored in a box on the tractor to which the wheel belongs.

The' structure shown and described is particularly simple, practical, and eiiicient, `but it is obvious that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l. A tractor wheel comprising two axially spaced series of spokes, a pair of angle iron rim members secured to the outer ends of the spokes, shouldered bolts connecting the rim members and holding them in axially spaced parallel relation, a plurality of circumferentially extending rockable shoes positioned between the rim members and each pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shouldered bolt, the end portions of each shoe being substantially one half the width and the central portion being of substantially the same width as the space between said rim members, and radially extending caulks at the ends of the shoes, the shoes being arranged in rights and lefts with their ends overlapping' each other, thus forming two rows of staggered caulks.

2. A traction wheel comprising two axially spaced series of spokes, a hub having a spoke disc at each of its ends, two angle iron rim members, the inner ends of the spokes of each series being secured to a spoke disc and the outer ends thereof being secured to an angle iron rim member, shouldered bolts connecting the rim members and holding them in axially spaced parallel relation, a plurality of circumferentially overlapping rockable shoes positioned between the rim members and each pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shouldered bolt, each shoe having its outer sole surface curved to correspond with the outer surface of the angle iron rim members and normally ush therewith, radially outwardly and inwardly extending caulks at the opposite ends of each shoe, lugs integral with the inner portions of the rim members radially inwardly of and in alignment with the 'shoulderedbolts and a leaf spring for each shoe secured centrally to one of said lugs and having its ends resting on the inner ends of the shoe caulks to oier elastic resistance to rocking of the shoe during operation of the wheel.

3. A traction wheel comprising two axially spaced series of spokes, a hub having a spoke disc at each of its ends, two angle iron rim members, the inner ends of the spokes of each series being secured to a spoke disc and the outer ends thereof being secured to an angle iron rim member, shouldered bolts connecting the rim members and holding them in axially spaced parallel relation, a plurality of crcumferentially overlapping rockable shoes positioned between the rims and each pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shouldered bolt, each shoe having its outer sole surface curved to correspond with the outer surface of the angle iron rim members and normally flush therewith, radially outwardly and inwardly extending caulks at the opposite ends of each shoe, lugs integral with the inner1 portions of the rim members radially inwardly of and in alignment with the shouldered bolts, a leaf spring for each shoe secured centrally to one Vof said lugs and having its ends resting on the inner ends of the shoe caulks to offer elastic resistance to roeking of the shoe during operation of the wheel, a leg integral with and extending radially inwardly from the center of each shoe having adjacent its inner end laterally extending trunnions diametrically apertured, and coupling bars detachably connecting the shoe legs in groups, each coupling bar having at each end an aperture receiving a trunnion and a pivoted hook, the bill of which is received by a diametrical aperture in the trunnion, connection of the shoes in groups having the effect of making the resistance of each shoe to rocking as it contacts the ground the combined resistance of all of the shoes of a group to rocking movement.

4. A traction wheel comprising two axially spaced series of spokes, a pair of angle iron rim members connected to the outer ends of the spokes, shouldered bolts connecting the rim members and holding them in axially spaced parallel relation, a plurality of circumferentially extending overlapping rockable shoes positioned between the rim members and each pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a shouldered bolt, each shoe having its outer surface curved to correspond to the curvature or the outer surface of the rim members and normally flush therewith, a caulk at each end of each shoe extending radially outwardly and inwardly of the wheel, a leg intermediate the ends of each shoe extending radially inwardly, coupling bars connecting the shoes in groupsgone shoe of each group having a leg longer than that of the other shoes of the group, each leg having adjacent its inner end laterally extending diametrically ape-rtured trunnions, each coupling bar having at each end an aperture receiving a trunnion and a pivoted hook received by a diametrical aperture in the trunnion, and a resilient adjusting device for each group or" shoes, said adjusting device being pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to a pair of axially spaced spokes and detachably and pivotally connected at its other end to the inner end of the longer leg of the group of shoes, whereby the shoes may be adjusted in groups and rocking of the shoes resiliently resisted.

JAMES M. ROBERTS. 

